Judge Dredd: Mega-City One TV show announced

Development begins on high-end TV series based on the legendary character from the pages of 2000 AD

3 months ago

The world of Judge Dredd is coming to TV screens thanks to a deal struck between leading independent entertainment studio IM Global and independent UK games developer and publisher Rebellion.

The deal will see development begin on a high-end TV series based on the globally-famous character from the pages of legendary British comic book 2000 AD, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Judge Dredd: Mega-City One is set in a future where east coast America has become a crowded and crime-ridden megalopolis. It will be an ensemble drama about a team of Judges – futuristic cops invested with the power to be judge, jury, and executioner – as they deal with the challenges the future-shocked 22nd Century throws at them.

Attached as Executive Producers are President of IM Global Television, Mark Stern, who developed critically-acclaimed series Battlestar Galactica, Helix, and Defiance at Syfy, IM Global Television CEO Stuart Ford, and the owners of Rebellion, Jason and Chris Kingsley, who along with Ford, were also executive producers on the 2012 DREDD feature film adaptation from DNA Films, Reliance Entertainment and IM Global.

Early development has begun on the show, and talent will be announced at a later date.

Stern said, “This is one of those seminal sci-fi properties that seems to only become and more relevant with age. Not only is it a rich world with biting social commentary, but it’s also fun as hell! As a fan of the comics and both films, it’s a dream come true to be able to work with Jason and Chris in adapting this for television.”

Jason and Chris Kingsley said: “We’re very excited to be beginning the journey to get more of Judge Dredd’s Mega-City One on the television screen. Thanks to the legions of fans who have kept up pressure on social media, and a lot of background work and enthusiasm, we aim to make a big budget production that will satisfy both our vast comics audience and the even greater general screen-watching public.”

Judge Dredd was created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in 1977 and is Britain’s biggest comic export. Running for 40 years, the cream of comics writers and artists have worked on the series – including Mark Millar (Kick Ass, Wanted), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, WE3), Garth Ennis (Preacher), Jock (DREDD, Ex Machina), Mick McMahon (Freakshift) – with its mix of high-octane action, black comedy, and extreme political satire. The 2012 movie DREDD, starring Karl Urban and Olivia Thirlby, has become a cult hit since its release and a massive fan-run campaign has regularly seen the film hit the top of Amazon’s DVD and Blu-Ray charts!

ABOUT 2000 AD

2000 AD is the legendary weekly British anthology comic – the home of Judge Dredd and a galaxy of original sci-fi, fantasy, and horror action stars. Producing innovative and provocative comics for 40 years, it has brought the industry some of its biggest talents, from Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, and Mark Millar, to Jock, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, and many more. Published in print and digital every Wednesday, 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic and remains at the industry’s cutting edge. www.2000ADonline.com

ABOUT REBELLION

Founded in 1992, Rebellion is one of Europe's leading independent game developers and publishers. Whether it's the breathtaking intensity of Sniper Elite®4, the face-hugging terror of Aliens vs. Predator or the grindhouse frenzy of Zombie Army Trilogy, the Oxford-based studio is known for creating stand-out games that thrill players.

ABOUT IM GLOBAL TELEVISION

IM Global Television (“IMG TV”) is a full-service television studio that develops, finances, produces, and distributes high-quality scripted dramas for the domestic and international marketplace. With a scripted division led by industry veteran Mark Stern and an unscripted and alternative division led by award-winning producer Phil Gurin, IM Global Television has a deep well of experience in television development and production, an innovative business approach, and a solid financial foundation. These assets make IM Global Television uniquely able to team with top-tier creative talent to deliver creative, bold and compelling programming. IM Global Television also has a fast growing scripted and unscripted international distribution business led by President of International Distribution Eli Shibley.

ABOUT IM GLOBAL

IM GLOBAL was founded by Chief Executive Officer Stuart Ford in 2007. The prolific independent studio operates one of the world’s leading international film, television and music production, sales and distribution platforms, controlling a library of more than 600 films which have collectively grossed more than $6 billion in worldwide box office. The company has financed or produced over thirty Hollywood feature films deploying more than $500 million in production capital, establishing itself as one of the most prolific film financiers outside of the major studios. IM Global has offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Munich, Mumbai, Mexico City, Beijing and Shanghai.

ABOUT TANG MEDIA PARTNERS

Tang Media Partners is a next generation global content creation, development, financing and production company with an emphasis on forging connections between China and international markets across all media platforms through subsidiaries IM Global (Hacksaw Ridge, The Mermaid, Breakup Buddies), Chaotic Good Studios and partners such as Chinese tech giant, Tencent Holdings. Tang Media Partners is also behind such box-office hits as STX Entertainment’s Bad Moms and the critically acclaimed The Edge of Seventeen. Tang Media Partners is the new home to Chaotic Good Studios, the content company devoted to developing expansive franchises for globally recognized intellectual properties across the entertainment landscape. They are creators of the premium analytic tool, Fanalytics, and the Chaotic Good Franchise Lab, a writer’s program focused on the creation of original multi-platform franchises across film, television, gaming and digital. Tang Media Partners was founded in 2015 by Donald Tang, former Bear Stearns & Co. Vice Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Bear Stearns Asia, Ltd., and is based in Los Angeles and Shanghai.